Shure’s new 5575LE Unidyne microphone with its classic large grille outer shell.

75 years of the 55 Unidyne is marked by the 5575LE – a limited edition of the classic cardioid dynamic microphone

his year marks the 75th anniversary of the launch of the distinctive Shure 55 Unidyne dynamic microphone, an iconic design and favourite of celebrated singers through the decades, such as Billie Holliday, Frank Sinatra and Elvis. To commemorate this anniversary, Shure is launching the 5575LE – a limited edition of the classic cardioid dynamic microphone with a few carefully chosen 21st-century upgrades to improve durability and sound quality.

Introduced in 1939, the 55 Unidyne was internationally adopted as a workhorse microphone for broadcast, public address, recording, and two-way radio applications. By the 1950s it was so well known that it was marketed as “the microphone that needs no name”. To this day, the 55 Unidyne — the first directional microphone to use a single dynamic element — continues to influence dynamic microphone designs across the globe. This fact was recognised by the international Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE), who honoured Shure with the prestigious Milestone Award in January 2014.

The new 5575LE features the current Unidyne III cardioid element, the recognisable large outer grill, vintage badging, and a zinc die-cast finish, with a silver-finish desk stand. The microphone is supplied in an aluminium flight case with a 75th anniversary logo, including a certificate of authenticity.

Available in a numbered manufacturing run of just 5575 pieces, the 5575LE pays homage to the original 55 Unidyne, packaging together vintage aesthetic and performance features for performers and collectors alike.

The Shure 5575LE Unidyne limited edition microphone will be available from early 2015 at a recommended retail price of £339.95. To learn more, visit www.shure.co.uk